Closure cap and method of making



Aug. 17, 1937.

J. C. GIBBS CLOSURE CAP AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed March 6, 1955 INVENTOR.

MA ATTORNEY.

Patented Au 11, 1937 PATENT OFFi 2,089,954 CLOSURE CAP AND METHOD OF MAKING John C. Gibbs, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Anchor Cap & Closure Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 6, 1935, Serial No. 9,642

13 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to closure caps and more particularly to closure caps of the screw type and to a method of making closure caps.

Screw threads or screw lugs have been formed in the skirts of caps by rolling or striking inwardly the skirt of the cap to form the threads or lugs at the desired positions, the threads or lugs being visible from the exterior of the cap which spoils the appearance thereof. In addition, the lacquer or coating on the exterior of the cap is damaged in the manufacture, further impairing the appearance of the cap and causing it to rust. Such caps are particularly objectionable for packages used for cosmetics and similar products, where a fancy package is desirable. So great has been the objection to the commercial types of closure caps noted above that the regular screw cap has been nested or enclosed in a cup-shaped shell to conceal the threads or projections of the regular cap. Naturally, the extra shell and the labor requiredto make and assemble it increase the cost of the'caps substantially, but packers have been willing to pay the additional price to obtain the g5 improved appearance. The closure cap and method herein provide a screw cap, preferably of the lug type, in which the screw members are com cealed and only a plain shell is visible on the exterior. The closure herein is more particularly an improvement upon Patent No. 1,810,706, granted June 16, 1931, and aims to provide improved lugs for engaging the threads of the container. Such improved lugs afford a more secure hold on the threads of the container, and permit greater variations or tolerances in the size and out-ofroundness of the containers without impairing the seal. The present improvement also aims to increase the strength of the screw lugs by improving the construction thereof and to eliminate or minimize any visible deformations of the skirt of the cap at the lug portions, thereby concealing the screw lugs in the skirt of the cap.

An object of the invention is to provide a screw closure cap with the screw members concealed.

an improved method of making closure caps having a plain exterior with concealed screw lug members on the interior thereof.

the strength of the screw lug members.

Another object of the invention is to improve the lug constructions of caps and thereby increase the holding power of the cap .and the tol- 5 erances in size and out-of-roundness which may Another object of the invention is to provide,

Another object of the invention is to increase be allowed in the manufacture of the glass containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a concealed lug cap comprising a piece of metal with a folded edge adapted to engage the container, said piece of metal having the edge folded at an acute angle to the skirt of the cap so that downward pressure of the metal will cause the cap to grip the thread with greater security.

A further object of the invention is an improved method of making closure caps having concealed threads or lugs.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the'illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevatlonal view, partly in section, of a closure cap illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first of the steps illustrated in Figs. 2 to 7 in the manufacture of the closure cap and shows a flanged blank which has been stamped from a sheet of lacquered or decorated material in the usual manner;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2, with the lower edge bent inwardly slightly to facilitate the formation of the wire edge;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the blank with an inturned bead or wire edge formed thereon;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the bottom of the cap provided with an annular depression which forces outwardly the lower edge of the skirt of the cap to preserve the cylindrical shape thereof;

Figs. 6 and 6a are fragmentary sectional views through the normal portion of the skirt and the lug portion of the skirt, respectively, illustrating the formation of the lugs in the cap;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through the lug of the finished cap illustrating the cap after the lug has been accurately positioned to conform to a standard;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 88 of Fig. 7 illustrating details of the lug construction;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational viewof the can applied to a container partly in section; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a modification of the invention.

Referring again to the drawing, illustrating Y a preferred embodiment of the invention and a preferred method of making the cap, there is shown in Fig. '1 a closure cap having a cover portion i and adepending skirt 2. The lower edge of the skirt is turned inwardly to form an inturned bead or wire edge 4. The wire edge is 'forced outwardly at its bottom, as hereinafter lug. It will be noted that the lugs 5 are concealed within the cap, permitting any desired decoration on the .cover and skirt portions'thereof without marring its appearance. If desired, the exterior of the cap may be decorated with a single color, for example, black or red, simulating a molded cap which is much more expensive and attractive than the usual types of metal caps. The details of the construction of the cap will be clear from the description about to be given of the steps in' the preferred method of -making the cap and, hence, will be omitted here to avoid duplication.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 to 8 of the drawing, a blank is shown in Fig. 2 having a cover portion I and a depending flange 2 prior to the formation of the wire edge and lugs. Such a blank may be stamped in the usual manner. Thereafter, the blank may be passed through a rolling machine or other device for turning the lower edge slightly inward, as shown at 6. The purpose of turning this edge in is to facilitate the next operation in which the edge is rolled into an inturned heador wire edge, as shown in Fig. 4 and indicated in this intermediate stage by the numeral 1. With the wire edge as shown in Fig. 4, it will be noted that the bottom of the cap has been rounded by the formation of the wire edge and the flange is not straight at the bottom thereof but bent inwardly slightly.

In order to have the flange straight from bottom to top and to minimize or prevent any irregularity in the skirt of the cap at the lugs which are later formed, the inturned edge or head, as shown in Fig. 4, has an annular depression 8 formed'therein, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Such an annular depression forces the lower edge of the skirt outwardly so that it is cylindrical from top to bottom, minimizing the curvature at the bottom. The formation of the annular depression also turns or rolls the edge of the cap upwardly and preferably shortens the skirt to some extent.

It also changes the sectional shape of the bead and positions it at substantially a forty-five degree angle to the skirt of the cap. If desired, the upward movement of the bead during this operation may be limited by a suitable supporting member intermediate the bead and the cover part of the cap. In cross-section, the shape of the wire edge,as shown in Fig. 5 may be and, preferably is substantially the same as the crosssectional shape of a lug of the finished cap.

The lugs may be formed, as shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and 611, by pressing upwardly .and outwardly the wire edge as it exists in Fig.

5 throughout spaced circumferential portions 8, the intermediate portion being maintained in substantially the same position as shown in Fig. 5 and with substantially the same shape. Preferably, the intermediate or lug portions are supported during this forming operation to minimize any irregularity in the formation'thereof and to control the distance the lugs extend outwardly from the skirt of the cap. when the spaced circumferential portions are forced inwardly against the inside of 'the flange of the cap, as shown at 9, the cap is sufliciently large at these portions to be telescoped over the thread on a container while the lugs 5 project sufllciently far inward to engage and securely hold on the threads of a container. It will be noted that the lugs 5 are formed by a folded strip of metal with the folded edge adapted to contact with the. thread of the container. Thus, the raw edge of the metal does not contact with the container and is not exposed so that it will rust.

Considerable difficulty has been occasioned to the skirt of the cap and as the threads on the container pull downwardly on the lugs of the cap (Fig. 9) they are pulled further inwardly' toward the container, thereby increasing the grip on the glass threads and preventing the lugs from riding over the threads which frequently occurs with existing caps. In addition, the construction of the lugs is such that the folded metal is edgewise disposed to the container threads giving maximum strength to the lugs. The bottom of the cap at the circumferentially spaced flattened portions 9 preferably comprises three thicknesses of metal folded closely together substantially parallel tothe skirt of the cap.

The structure shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 6a and, in many cases, is the same. In order to maintain the lugs within prescribed tolerances, the final operation in making the cap is a gauging or positioning operation wherein the lugs are accurately positioned with references to the skirt and cover portion of the cap so that the cap will conform to a prescribed standard.

In the manufacture of the closure, the several operations herein described maybe performed simultaneously. In other words, a series of caps may. be presented to a machine and one or more caps delivered at each operation of the machine. While several operations are performed consecutively on each cap, in the particular instance four operations exclusive of the insertion of the liner 3, four caps may be in the machine so that one cap is delivered at eachv operation. The liner I3 may be inserted also simultaneously with theseoperations so that a completed cap may be delivered at each operation of the used for decorating the cap so that it has the appearance of a molded cap, or various types of decorations may be used with the assurance that the exterior of the cap will not be marred in any way by the manufacturing operations necessary to form the closure cap. The screw members are concealed and extend inwardly amply far to take up the necessary size tolerances which exist in glass containers. The construction of the lugs prevents them from riding over the thread.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawing, wherein the upper part of the cap is polygonal in contour, having a series of flat sides I2 separated by corners ll with a rounded lower portion IS. The lug and bead construction of the cap may be the same as that described hereinbefore. The polygonal shaping of the cover portion of the cap has a distinct functional feature in addition to giving a different appearance to the cap. The flat sides l2 may extend inwardly flush with the inner side of the flattened bead portions 9 so that they are a continuation of these flattened bead portions. Since the threads of the container have to pass through the flattened bead portions of the cap, if the space above the bead is larger than the inner diameter of the flat portion of the bead, the cap may be moved slightly from side to side. By having the sides l2 flush with the inside of the portions 9, the cap fits more snugly on the threads and is better centered which minimizes the tendency for the lugs to ride over the thread on the glass containers. It will be understood, of course, that the flat sides illustrated herein are a preferred embodiment and that other means may be utilized to. obtain a similar result, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The present type of closure cap is applied in the same manner as the ordinary lug caps, it being necessary to turn the cap about onequarter of a turn for complete application, and is likewise removed by a one-quarter turn where four lugs are used on the cap and the container. It may be necessary or desirable to usea different number of lugs, for example, in small caps it is usually desirable to use two lugs, in which case the cap must be turned substantially one-half a turn to apply and substantially one-half of a turn to remove. The present invention contemplates the use of any desired number of lugs.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a closure cap with concealed lugs which are sturdy in every respect. The lugs projectinwardly sufficiently far to afford a secure grip on the threads of the container. In addition, the lugs are at an angle to the flange of the container, whereby pressure on the lugs tends to increase the grip on the threads. The depression in the lower sides of the lugs presses outwardly the skirt of the cap at the bottom thereof so that the skirt at the lugs conforms to the general contour of the cap at the flattened portions of the bead and the lugs are concealed in the skirt of the cap. The exterior of the cap may be decorated as desired without being marred in any way by the thread members necessary to secure the cap to the container.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a screw closure cap having the lower edge thereof turned inwardly to form a beaded edge, said beaded edge being flattened outwardly at circumfercntially spaced portions to provide locking lugs at the intermediate portions thereof, the bottom of the skirt being pressed outwardly at said locking lugs to make the contour of the bottom of the skirt at the lugs conform to the contour of the bottom of the skirt at said spaced portions.

2. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion, 2. depending skirt, the lower edge of said skirt being turned inwardly to form a bead, said lower edge having an annular depression in the bottom thereof to maintain the bottom of the skirt in line with the upper part of the skirt, whereby the skirt is substantially cylindrical from top to bottom.

3. The method of forming a screw closure cap from a flanged blank of sheet metal, which method comprises rolling inwardly the lower edge of the flange to form a hollow bead or wire edge, setting the flange outwardly at the bottom thereof and throughout the circumference thereof to keep the flange substantially cylindrical from top to bottom and to prevent irregularities at the lug portions of the skirt and setting circumferentially spaced portions of the inturned bead outwardly to form screw lugs from the intermediate portions thereof.

4. The method of forming a screw closure cap from a flanged blank of sheet metal, which method comprises turning inwardly the lower edge of the flange to form a wire edge or bead, forming an annular groove on the lower side of the bead to force the bottom of the skirt of the cap outwardly, and setting circumferentially spaced portions of the grooved bead outwardly toward the skirt of the cap to form screw projections from the intermediate portions thereof.

5. The method of forming a screw closure cap from a flanged blank of sheet metal, which method comprises turning inwardly the lower edge of the flange to form an inturned head on the inside of the cap, bending the bottom of said bead upwardly and forcing the bottom of the skirt of the cap outwardly to prevent irregularities therein at the lug portions thereof and thereafter flattening spaced circumferential portions of said upwardly bent bead against the skirt of the cap to form screw lugs from the intermediate portions thereof.

6. The method of forming a screw closure cap from a flanged blank of sheet metal, which method comprises turning inwardly the lower edge of the flange to form an inturned bead on the inside of the cap, bending the lower portion of said bead upwardly toward the cover of the cap to prevent irregularities in the skirt of the cap occasioned by the lug forming operation and thereafter flattening spaced circumferential portions of said bead against the skirt of the cap to form screw lugs from the intermediate portions thereof, and supporting said intermediate portions in addition to supporting the remainder of the cap during the flattening operation.

7. The method of forming a closure cap from a flanged blank of sheet metal, which comprises turning inwardly the lower edge of the flange to form a bead or wire edge, and forming an annular depression in the lower. part of said wire edge to force the bottom of the skirt outwardly,

thereby keeping it straight substantially from top to bottom.

8. The method of making closure caps from a flanged blank of sheet metal which comprises turning inwardly the edge of the flange to form a bead or wire edge, flattening said inturned bead outwardly against the skirt of the cap at spaced circumferential portions thereof to form screw lugs from the intermediate portion and thereafter positioning said lugs within the cap to conform to a predetermined standard.

9. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion, a depending skirt, the lower edge of said skirt being turned inwardly to form a bead, said lower edge having an annular depression in the bottom thereof to maintain the bottom of the skirt in line with the upper part of the skirt, whereby the skirt is substantially cylindrical from top to bottom, said bead being pressed outwardly against the'skirt of the cap at substantially spaced intervals to provide locking lugs at said intermediate portions.

10. As an article of manufacture, a screw closure cap having the lower edge thereof turned inwardly to form a beaded edge, said beaded edge being flattened outwardly at circumferentially spaced portions to provide, locking lugs at the intermediate portions thereof, the bottom of the skirt being pressed outwardly at said locking lugs to make the contour of the bottom of the skirt at the lugs conform to the contour of the bottom of the skirt at said spaced portions, and projections extending inwardly from the normal plane of the skirt of the cap above the bead thereof adapted to center the cap on a container.

11. The methodof forming a closure cap from a flanged blank of sheet metal, which comprises turning inwardly the lower edge of the flange to form a. bead or wire edge, forming an annular depression in the lower part of said bear or wire to force the bottom of the skirt outwardly, thereby keeping it straight substantially from top to bottom, and forcing said bead outwardly at circumferentially spaced intervals to provide looking lugs from the intermediate, portions.

12. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap comprising a cover portion, a depending skirt, the bottom of said skirt having a wire or beaded edge, the lower portion of said beaded edge having an annular depression formed therein circumferentially of the cap to force the bottom of the skirt of the cap outwardly into substantial alignment with the upper portion of the skirt,

' said depressed bead being pressed outwardly against the skirt of the cap at spaced intervals about the circumference of the skirt of the cap to provide screw lugs from the intermediate portions of said bead.

13. As an article of manufacture, a screw closure cap having a depending flange with the lower edge thereof extending inwardly, upwardly and downwardly throughout the circumference of the cap to form a metal fold at the bottom of the skirt and a second metal fold above the bottom of the skirt with the downwardly folded raw edge enclosed between the inside of the skirt of the cap and the upwardly extending metal fold, said metal folds being substantially parallel to the skirt of the cap and substantially in contiguous relation thereto throughout cir-. cumferentially spaced portions thereof, said upper folded edge extending outwardly from the skirt of the-cap intermediate said circumferentially spaced portions to form screw lugs from the upper folded edge, said upper folded edge at said lug portions being adapted toengage the lower side of a container thread or projection,

the foldedmetal forming the lugs being edgewise disposed to the forces pulling the cap down on the container to increase the strength of the lugs and to prevent the lugs from riding over the threads or projections on the container when the cap is screwed thereon.

' JOHN C. GIBBS. 

